REFRESH AND FILTER ANCHORS

• US 20090307279A1
• Filed: 09/09/2008
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Freedman, Gordon J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,073,813 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/178 Techniques for file synchronisation in file systems

Abstract

Structured data on a device is synchronized with structured data on a host if the device and the host have a matching refresh anchor. Structured data on the device is additively synchronized with structured data on the host if the device and the host have different refresh anchors. Additive synchronization combines structured data from the device with structured data on the host without deleting structured data from the device or the host.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

synchronizing structured data in a first store on a device with structured data in a second store on a first host if the device and the first host have a matching refresh anchor;

performing additive synchronization of structured data in the first store on the device with structured data in the second store on the first host if the device and the first host have different refresh anchors, wherein additive synchronization combines structured data from the first store on the device with structured data in the second store on the first host without deleting structured data from the first store or the second store.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the structured data is one or more of calendar data, contact information, email account setup information, bookmarks, notes, task lists, music files, or documents.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein performing additive synchronization further comprises:

generating a common refresh anchor for the device and the first host.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining that the common refresh anchor for the device and the first host does not match a refresh anchor of a second host;

performing additive synchronization of structured data in the first store on the device with structured data in a third store on a second host, wherein the common refresh anchor is propagated to the second host.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing additive synchronization of structured data in the first store on the device with structured data in the second store on the first host if the device and the first host have a matching refresh anchor but structured data filter settings associated with the device are different than structured data filter settings associated with the first host; and

reconciling the structured data filter settings between the device and the first host.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein reconciling the structured data filter settings comprises one of:

automatically imposing the filter settings of the first host onto the device;

automatically imposing the filter settings of the device onto the first host; and

applying filter settings selected by a user on the device and the first host.

7. An article of manufacture, comprising a computer readable medium having content stored thereon to provide instructions to result in an electronic device performing operations including:

synchronizing structured data in a first store on a device with structured data in a second store on a first host if the device and the first host have a matching refresh anchor;

performing additive synchronization of structured data in the first store on the device with structured data in the second store on the first host if the device and the first host have different refresh anchors, wherein additive synchronization combines structured data from the first store on the device with structured data in the second store on the first host without deleting structured data from the first store or the second store.

8. The article of manufacture of claim 7, wherein the structured data is one or more of calendar data, contact information, email account setup information, bookmarks, notes, task lists, music files, or documents.

9. The article of manufacture of claim 7, wherein the content to provide instructions that cause the electronic device to perform additive synchronization comprises further content to cause the electronic device to perform operations including:

generating a common refresh anchor for the device and the first host.

10. The article of manufacture of claim 9, further comprising further content to provide instructions that cause the electronic device to perform operations including:

determining that the common refresh anchor for the device and the first host does not match a refresh anchor of a second host;

performing additive synchronization of structured data in the first store on the device with structured data in a third store on a second host, wherein the common refresh anchor is propagated to the second host.

11. The article of manufacture of claim 7, further comprising further content to provide instructions that cause the electronic device to perform operations including:

performing additive synchronization of structured data in the first store on the device with structured data in the second store on the first host if the device and the first host have a matching refresh anchor but structured data filter settings associated with the device are different than structured data filter settings associated with the first host; and

reconciling the structured data filter settings between the device and the first host.

12. The article of manufacture of claim 11, wherein reconciling the structured data filter settings comprises one of:

automatically imposing the filter settings of the first host onto the device;

automatically imposing the filter settings of the device onto the first host; and

applying filter settings selected by a user on the device and the first host.

13. A device, comprising:

means for synchronizing structured data in a first store on the device with structured data in a second store on a first host if the device and the first host have a matching refresh anchor;

means for performing additive synchronization of structured data in the first store on the device with structured data in the second store on the first host if the device and the first host have different refresh anchors, wherein additive synchronization combines structured data from the first store on the device with structured data in the second store on the first host without deleting structured data from the first store or the second store.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the structured data is one or more of calendar data, contact information, email account setup information, bookmarks, notes, task lists, music files, or documents.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the means for performing additive synchronization further comprises:

means for generating a common refresh anchor for the device and the first host.

16. The device of claim 15, further comprising:

means for determining that the common refresh anchor for the device and the first host does not match a refresh anchor of a second host;

means for performing additive synchronization of structured data in the first store on the device with structured data in a third store on a second host, wherein the common refresh anchor is propagated to the second host.

17. The device of claim 13, further comprising:

means for performing additive synchronization of structured data in the first store on the device with structured data in the second store on the first host if the device and the first host have a matching refresh anchor but structured data filter settings associated with the device are different than structured data filter settings associated with the first host; and

means for reconciling the structured data filter settings between the device and the first host.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the means for reconciling the structured data filter settings comprises one or more of:

means for automatically imposing the filter settings of the first host onto the device;

means for automatically imposing the filter settings of the device onto the first host; and

means for applying filter settings selected by a user on the device and the first host.